Fluid delivery control system

ABSTRACT

A fuel dispensing system adapted for self-service operation as well as conventional operation with a service station attendant. The system comprises a plurality of delivery subsystems, each adapted to selectively deliver a plurality of different grades of gasoline, and a remote control subsystem adapted to be manned for controlling the operation of each of the delivery subsystems. The control subsystem is connected to each delivery subsystem such that the cost, volume and grade of gasoline of each delivery can be selectively displayed at the manned remote control station.

nited States Patent [1 1 Brunone [451 May 14, 1974 FLUID DELIVERYCONTROL SYSTEM [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: V'eeder Industries, Inc., Hartford,

Conn.

[22] Filed: June 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.1 260,249

Peter P. Brunone, Vernon, Conn.

[52] 0.8. CI 235/92 FL, 235/92 R, 235/92 DM, 235/92 EA [51] Int. Cl.G06m l/l2 [58] Field of Search 235/92 FL, 92 PL; 340/347 DD [56]References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,580,42l 5/1971 Bickford"235/92 FL 3,271,5l7 9/l966 DeR0sa.... 340/347 DD 3,460,097

8/1969 Kubo 235/92 PL 3,400.255 9/1968 Uroom 235/92 FL PrimaryExaminer--Paul J. Henon Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Gnuse Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Prutzman, -Hayes, Kalb &

Chilton 57 ABSTRACT A fuel dispensing system adapted for self-serviceoperation as well as conventional operation with a service stationattendant. The system comprises a plurality of delivery subsystems, eachadapted to selectively deliver a plurality of different grades ofgasoline, and a remote control subsystem adapted to be manned forcontrolling the operation of each of the delivery subsystems. Thecontrol subsystem is connected to each delivery subsystem such that thecost, volume and grade of gasoline of each delivery can be selectivelydisplayed at themanned remote control station.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures L 2 PRINTER lll COST 7 L/ VOLUME RECEIVERPRODUCT mm um COST VOLUME Mun uunun is 5M EIEcTOR a M L" 0 TNOZELT LIGHT19 V W5 9i [ACKNGWLEECMEW iea l B52231 F 1 FLUID DELIVERY CONTROL SYSTEMBRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventiongenerally relates tofluid dispensing systems and more particularly to a new and improvedfluid dispensing control system having notable utility in self-servicegasoline stations for controlling the delivery of gasoline at each of aplurality of delivery pumps and providing delivery information fordetermining the charges to self-service customers.

It is a principle aim of the present invention to provide a new andimproved self-service gasoline dispensing system of the type having amanned control station for controlling'the operation of each .of aplurality of gasoline pumps and for collecting payment from selfservicecustomers.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improvedself-service fuel dispensing system which provides for the self-servicedelivery of a selected one of a plurality of different grades ofgasoline.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improvedfluid dispensing system having a single readout station for selectivelydisplaying'the delivery information of each of a plurality of deliverysubsystems. 7

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new andimproved information transmission system for a fluid-dispensing systemfor transmitting'fluid de livery information from a fuel delivery pumpto a remote control station. It is another aim 'of the present inventionto provide a new'and improved remote readout system for a fuel deliverysystem for selectively displaying the cost and- /or volume informationof the fuel deliveries at each of a plurality of fuel delivery pumps.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in moredetail hereinafter.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings of anillustrative application of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like numeralsare used to designate parts which are functionally alike, a gasolinedispensing system'is schematically shown which incorporates anembodiment of the present invention. The gasoline dispensing systemcomprises a plurality of delivery subsystems or pumps 10 (only oneofwhich being shown in the drawings) which are independently operable forindividually delivering each of three gasoline grades or productsdesignated A, B and C. Each product delivery system 11 of each pump 10comprises-in a conventional manner a fuel pump 12 driven by a motorl4'for delivering the gasoline product via a suitable electromagneticcontrol valve 16 and meter 18 to a fuel delivery nozzle 20 (the nozzle20 for product A being the only nozzle shown in FIG. 1 for simplicity).The output shaft 22 of each meter 18 drives a pulse generator 24 togenerate a pulse train having a pre-established number of pulses (eg onehundred) for each pre-established unit vol ume (e.g. one gallon) of fueldispensed. The pulse generators 24 are connected in parallel to a pulsegenerator selector 26 which is selectively operable for selectivelyconnecting the pulse generators to a multiplier 28.

The multiplier 28 forms a part of a price computing device 30 of thetype shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,696,236 of Crawford M. Ku'sdated Oct. 3, ,1972 and entitled Computing Device. Briefly, thecomputing device 30 comprises a separate price selector 32 for eachgasoline product which is preset to preestablish the unit volume priceof the gasoline product. The price selectors 32 are selectivelyactivated to control the multiplier 28 and such that the multipliergenerates an output pulse train in its output transmission lead 34having a number of pulses in accordance with the volume of fueldispensed and the pr e-established unit volume price of the selectedproduct. A five decade cost accumulator 36 is driven by the multiplieroutput pulse train to accumulate the cost of fuel delivered, and a fivedigit cost indicator 38 is operated by BCD readout leads of the costaccumulator 36 via suitable decoderdriver circuits 40 to provide avisual readout or display of the cost of fueldispensed.

A five decade volume accumulator 42 is driven by the selected pulsegenerator output pulse train to accumulate the volume of fuel delivered,and a' five digit volume indicator 44 is operated'by BCD readout leadsof the volume accumulator 42' via decoder-driver circuits 40 to providea visual readout or display of the volume of fuel dispensed. A priceindicator 50 is operated by the active price selector 32 via BCD readoutleads of the price selector and decoder-driver circuits 40 to provide avisual readout or display of the preestablished unit volume price of theselected gasoline product. A suitable electromagnetic totalizer 54 isprovided for each of the three available products for accumulating thevolume dispensed of the respective fuel product, and the threetotalizers 54 are selectively operated in-accordance with theselectedfuel product.

Each fuel delivery nozzel 20 is stored in a suitable nozzle storagereceptacle 60 between deliveries. A switch 64is associated with eachnozzle storage recep tacle 60 to sense the removal of the nozzle fromand return of the nozzle to its storage receptacle. For this purpose, asuitable lever 66 is shown adapted to be operated by the nozzle 20 foroperating the switch64. The three nozzle operated switches 64 areconnected via a suitable selector matrix 70 such that the matrix outputlead 71, 72 or 73 corresponding to the nozzle which is first removed isenergized. The selector matrix 70 preferably provides that all threenozzles 20 m'ust be in their storage receptacles before one of thematrix output leads 7I-73 can be subsequentlyenergized by removing thecorresponding nozzle from its storage receptacle.

The selector matrix output leads 71-73 are connected to a productselector which is adapted to be selectively set (and remain set untilsubsequently reset) in accordance with the active (or energized)selector matrix output lead 71-73 to energize a corresponding productselector lead 81, 82 or 83. The product selector 80 is connected via itsselector leads 81-83 to operate the pulse generator selector 26 andactivate the appropriate price selector 32 and totalizer 54 inaccordance with the active fuel nozzle 20. Also, the product selector 80is connected to a delivery control circuit 86 to activate thecorresponding product delivery system 11 when the delivery controlcircuit 86 is set in its On condition.

Each pump has a transmitter 90 for transmitting the current cost, volumeand product information of the pump to a control subsystem 100 which ismanually controlled during self-service operation of the fuel system forcontrolling the operation of each pump and properly charging eachcustomer for the amount of fuel received. The transmitter 90 isconnected to receive BCD signals of the cost and volume information fromthe cost and volume accumulators 36, 42 and is connected to receive aproduct signal from the product selector 80. As hereinafter more fullyexplained, the transmitter 90 provides for transmitting the currentcost, volume and product information to the control subsystem 100 viathree signal transmission leads 101-103 which respectively transmitserial data signals, clock signals and synchronization signals.

The control subsystem 100 comprises a receiver 110 and a pump selector112 which is adapted to be selectively operated to selectively connectthe pump transmitters 90 to the receiver 110. The control-subsystem 100is shown designed for use with three pumps identified by the Romannumerals I, 11 and 111, but as shall become-apparent could be designedfor use with any desired number of pumps 10. Selector buttons 114, onefor each pump 10, are provided for operating the pump selector 112 andthereby connect the respective pump transmitter 90 to the receiver 110.Slave or remote cost and volume indicators 116, 118 provide a visualreadout or display of the cost and volume information of the selectedpump and three lamps 120 are connected to be selectively energized forindicating the selected product at the selected pump. A suitablemanually operable printer 126 is connected to the receiver 110 forproviding a printout or delivery record of the cost and volumeinformation of the selected pump.

A start or authorization button 126 is provided for each pump forselectively activating the pump for delivering fuel, and a stop button128 is provided for each pump for selectively de-activating the pump. Anacknowledgment lamp 129 provided for each pump is connected to beenergized when the pump is activated for delivering fuel. A nozzle lamp130 provided for each pump is connected for (a) generating a flashing orintermittent light signal when a nozzle of the respective pump isremoved before the pump is activated for delivering fuel, or (b)generating a steady light signal when both a pump nozzle has beenremoved and the pump is activated.

A mode selector 134 having an fR or remote control position and an L" orlocal control position is provided for respectively conditioning theentire fuel system for remote control at a suitably located mannedcontrol station (where the controls and visual indicators of the controlsubsystem 100 are located) for selfservice delivery of gasoline or forlocal control at each of the individual pumps 10 for attendant deliveryof gasoline. With the mode selector 134 in remote control or R position,when a selected start button 126 is momentarily depressed, a main pumpcontrol of the corresponding pump is set in its On condition and themain pump control 140 thereupon sets the pump delivery control 86 in itsOn condition to activate the pump. The main pump control 140 alsoenergizes the corresponding acknowledgment lamp 129 to signal that thepump has been activated. When the mode selector 134 is in its L or localcontrol position, the main pump control 140 is set in its On conditionwhen one of the pump nozzles is removed. In either mode of operation,the main pump control 140 and the delivery control 86 are connected tobe returned to their Off condition by momentarily depressing therespective stop button 128 or by returning the active nozzle to itsstorage receptacle (the nozzle operated switches 64 being connected viathe selector matrix 70, an OR gate 146, an AND gate 148, a signalinverter 147, and a suitable single shot circuit 149 to deactivate themain pump control 140 and delivery control 86 when the active nozzle'isreturned to its storage receptacle).

The AND gate 148 remains open while the pump is activated and the activenozzle 20 is withdrawn from its storage receptacle. The AND gate 148 issuitably connected to maintain the nozzle lamp 130 continuouslyenergized during such occurrence. The AND gate 148 is also connected viaa pair of suitable single-shot circuits 150 anda signal inverter 151 toreset a timer 152 (shown connected to be indexed by the computeroscillator 153) and, a display control 154 and a delay circuit each timethe AND gate 148 is opened and each time the AND gate is closed. Thetimer 152 is connected to step the delay circuit 160 for example everysecond and the delay circuit 160 functions to generate a signal after apredetermined delay of for example 4 seconds (i.e., four steps) after ithas been reset.

A pump reset control 164 is connected to the delay circuit 160 and tothe AND gate 148 such that the pump reset control is conditioned toreset the pump (i.e., reset the product selector 80 and the cost andvolume accumulators 36, 42) when the pump is activated only if the pumphas been de-activated for the predetermined delay established by thedelay circuit 160. Such ensures that the pump is not inadvertently resetif the nozzle operated switch 64 is inadvertently cycled when returningthe nozzle to the storage receptacle at the end of the delivery. Thus,when a delivery is authorized (by momentarily depressing the startbutton 126 or when the mode selector is in its L position) and a nozzleis removed from its storage receptacle and the AND gate 148 is therebyopened (and a four second delay has elapsed since the completion of theprior delivery) the pump reset control 164 will generate a reset signalto (a) reset the accumulators 36, 42 to 0 (such that the succeedingdelivery will commence with 000.00, cost and volume displays) and (b)reset the product selector to condition the pump for delivering theselected product.

The timer 152 is also employed for generating a signal after apredetermined relatively long interval of for example 4 minutes for (a)automatically de-activating the pump for safety reasons after such apredetermined interval and (b) operating the display control 154 forautomatically de-activating the cost, volume and price displayindicators 38, 44 and 50 after such a predetermined interval after thepump has been de-activated.

For example, where liquid crystal indicators are employed, it has beenfound particularly desirable to automatically de-activate the indicatorsafter a predetermined interval after the completion of a fuel delivery(and thus during the interval the pump remains inactive) in order toincrease the life of the indicators. The display control 154 issubsequently operated to activate the indicators 38, 44, 50 when thepump is activated and a nozzle is removed.

The timer 152 is also connected via a suitable AND gate 170 to providean intermittent signal for intermittent operation of the respectivenozzle lamp 130 when a nozzle is removed before the pump is activated.The resulting flashing light signal is used for example to alert theattendant manning the control subsystem 100 that a customer wishes todeliver fuel from the pump represented by the flashing light. The ANDgate 170 and AND gate 148 are suitably connected to the respectivenozzle lamp 130 such that the lamp 130 remains energized continuallywhile the AND gate 148 is open and even though'the AND gate 170 is alsointermittently opened. I

Referring to FIG. 2, the pump transmitter 90 comprises a selector matrix200 having eleven input binary signal groups shown designated by thenumerals 1-11. The first through fifth input signal groups are the BDsignals from the cost accumulator decades in descending order.Similarly, the sixth through tenth input groups are BCD signals from thevolume accumulator decades in descending order. The eleventh inputsignal group provides a signal from the product selector 80 representingthe active product.

The selector matrix 200 is operated by 12 control leads 201 from asequencing circuit 202 to sequentially connect the input signal groupsto a parallel to serial converter 204. The twelfth control lead 201 isprovided for connecting the product signal group to the parallel toserial converter 204- during the last two steps of the sequencingcircuit 202.

The parallel-to-serial converter 204 is connected to be indexed by asecond sequencing circuit 212 to serially transmit the' binary signalsin each signal group over the serial data transmission lead 101.Thecomputer oscillator 153 is shown connected to the sequencing circuit212 to repeatedly cycle the sequencing circuit 212 through its foursteps to repeatedly cycle the parallel to serial converter 204. Theoscillator which may, for example, have a 4 KC frequency, is also connected to provide the'clock pulses transmitted via the clocktransmission lead 102.

The sequencing circuit 212 is connected for stepping the sequencingcircuit 202 at the end of each four step cycle of the circuit 212 suchthat the selector matrix 200 is indexed after the signals of each inputsignal group are transmitted serially to the serial data transmissionlead 101. The binary signals representing the cost, volume and productinformation are thereby transmitted serially via the serial datatransmission lead 101 at a rate determined by the frequency of theoscillator 153. The twelfth or last control lead 201 is also connectedvia a suitable delay circuit 214 and single shot circuit 216 to resetthe sequencing circuits 202, 212 after the completion of one full cycleof the sequencing circuit 202 and to thereby reset the system for asucceeding data transmission cycle. The lst control lead 201 is alsoconnected to the synchronization signal transmission lead 103 to providea synchronizing signal for synchronizing the receiver with thetransmitter 90 at the beginning of each data transmission cycle and tothereby ensure that the transmitted binary signals are properlyinterpretted by the receiver.

When a pump selector button 114 is momentarily depressed, the pumpselector 1 12 is setto connect the serial data, clock andsynchronization signal transmission leads 101-103 of the correspondingpump to the receiver 110. A four bit shift register 230 is connected tothe serial data and clock signal transmission leads 101, 102 tocontinually receive the transmitted binary signals. A storage register232 is connected to the shift register 230 for selectively storing thefour binary signals in the shift register 230. The storage register 232is connected to a combined decoder driver and decoder driver controlcircuit 237 which is connected to each digit display 238 of the cost andvolume display indicators 116, 118. The digit displays 238 are, forexample, 7-bar FIG. 8 type displays, in which event the decoder driver237 would have seven output leads for energizing the digital displays238 in accordance with the BCD signal in the storage register 232. I

A counter 250and BCD decoder 254 are connected for timely energizing thedigital displays 238 in sequence from left to right. Also,'a gate 257 isoperated via an AND gate 259 by the counter readout leads for timelyconnecting three of the storage register readout leads for energizingthe appropriate product lamp 120. The counter 250 is connected to thesingle-shot circuit 236 to be indexed one step for each four clockpulses and, therefore, for each binary signal group transmitted to thestorage register 232 and such that the digital displays 238 and theproduct lamp bank are activated in sequence and the digital displays 238and product lamp bank are individually activated when he correspondingbinary signal group is stored in the storage register 232. Thesynchronization signal is transmitted via a suitable single-shot circuit260 to reset the divider circuit 234 and counter 250 when the 1st binarysignal group is stored in the storage register 232 and to therebysynchronize the activation of the cost and volume digit displays 238 andthe product lamp bank with the transmission of the corresponding binarysignal groups to the receiver 110.

It can be seen that the digit displays 238 are pulsed once for each datatransmission cycle, whereas the product lamp is pulsed twice during eachtransmission cycle for a totalon time of approximately onesixth of theduration of the data transmission cycle. The product lamps 120 are, forexample conventional incandescent lamps and the longer operation of theproduct lamp 120 is provided to ensure sufficient lamp intensity. Theapplied voltage to the digit displays 238 is controlled so that theshort pulse duration is sufficientto provide adequate display intensityand to prevent noticeable display flickering.

The digital displays 238 are, for example, 7-bar FIG. 8 incandescentdisplay tubes (e.g. Numitron display tubes sold by Radio Corporationof.America) in which event it has been found desirable to provide asafety circuit for automatically de-activating the digital displays 238when there are faulty low frequency clock signals which would otherwisemaintain the digital displays 238 energized too long and such that thelife of the digital displays would be substantially reduced or thedisplays would immediately burn out. For this purpose and other purposeshereinafter explained a decoder driver enable circuit 270 is providedfor selectively enabling the decoder driver 237. The decoder driverenable circuit 270 is automatically deactivated by the synchronizationsignal (via the single-shot circuit 260 and an OR gate 272) atthebeginning of each transmission cycle, Also, the enable circuit 270 isconnected via the OR gate 272 to the highest order digital display 238of the volume indicator 118 to be deactivated at the commencement of thevolume display. Through the foregoing inputsthrough the OR gate 272 theenable circuit 270 is deactivated to blank out the unnecessary leadingzeros in the cost and volume displays (through the highest three placesor up to the decimal point) as more fully explained hereinafter. Thedecoder driver enable circuit 270 is thereafter adapted to bere-activated via an AND gate 276 only if the clock pulse rate is abovethe predetermined frequency. For this purpose, the clock transmissionlead is connected via'a single-shot circuit 278 to charge a suitablecapacitor circuit 280 for a pre-established short interval for eachclock pulse. The capacitor circuit 280 discharges at a predeterminedrate between charge pulses and the voltage level in its output lead 282is maintained at an adequate level to operate the AND gate 276 only ifthe clock pulse rate is above a predetermined safe frequency. Theoutputlead 282 from the capacitor circuit 280 is also connected to the ANDgate 259 for de-energizing the product indicator lamp 120 if the'clockpulse rate is below the predetermined safe frequency.

The decoder driver enable circuit 270 is reactivated (if theclockfrequency is above the predetermined safe frequency) when a secondsignal is supplied to the AND gate 276 via an OR gate 286. The OR gateis connected to a 0 output lead 288 from the decoder driver 237 via asignal inverter 290 such that a signal is supplied to the AND gate 276to activate the enable circuit 270 when a number signal (i.e., a signalfor one of the numbers 1 through 9) is transmitted by the decoder driverto the digit displays 238. Also, the OR gate 286 is connected to thefirst digit display 238 after the decimal point of each indicator 116,118 such that the decoder driver enable circuit 270 is activated whenthose digital displays 238 are activated. Accordingly leading zeros upto the decimal point are blanked out to provide for simplifying thereading of the cost and volume indicators and to extend the life of thedigital displays 238.

Ten BCD storage circuits 298, five for the cost printer section (notshown) and five for the volume printer section (not shown) are providedas inputs for connection to a conventional printer. The BCD storagecircuits 298 are connected in parallel to the BCD readout leads of thestorage register 232 and are connected via a control gate 300 to beselectively operated by the BCD decoder 254 such that the storagecircuits 298 are set in sequence from left 'to right to store thecorresponding digit information as it is transmitted viathe serialtransmission lead 101. A delay 302 is interposed between the single-shotcircuit 236 and the control gate 300 to ensure that the storage register232 is set before 4 the BCD signal stored in the storage register 232 istransmitted to the corresponding printer storage decade 298.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, variousmodifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specificdisclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of thepresent invention.

I claim:

1. In a fluid dispensing system having at least one fluid deliverysubsystem for delivering fluid, the fluid delivery subsystem havingaccumulating means for accumulating the amount of the fluid deliveredand signal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing theaccumulated amount in the accumulating means, and a register subsystemhaving register means for registering the amount of fluid delivered byeach fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means connected for receivingthe transmitted signals from each delivery subsystem and for operatingthe register means to register the amount of fluid delivered by thedelivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter meansis operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predetermined,frequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of aplurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount, wherein thesignal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals atsaid predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises ashift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clocksignals for receiving-the binary in sequence, a BCD storage registerconnected to be operated by the shift register and clock signals forstoring the BCD signal groups in sequence, the register means comprisinga plurality of separate register sections for the plurality of BCDsignal groups respectively adapted to be activated for registering theamount of the respective BCD signal group, the receiver means furthercomprisingvBCD decoderdriver means connected to be operated by the BCDstorage register for decoding each BCD signal group in the BCD signalgroup sequence and for driving all of the separate register sections inaccordance therewith,

and sequencing means operable by the clock signals for activating theseparate register sections in said BCD signal group sequence and insynchronism with the operation of the BCD storage register for beingdriven by the BCD decoder driver means for sequentially registering theamounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storageregister.

2. ln a fluid dispensing system having at least one fluid deliverysubsystem for delivering fluid, the fluid delivery subsystem havingaccumulating means for accumulating the amount of the fluid deliveredand signal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing theaccumulated amount in the accumulating means, and a register subsystemhaving register-means for registering the amount of fluid delivered byeach fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means connected for receivingthe transmitted signals from each delivery subsystem and for operatingthe register means to register the amount of fluid delivered by thedelivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter meansis operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predeterminedfrequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals ofaplurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount, wherein thesignal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals atsaid predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises ashift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clocksignals for receiving the binary signals in sequence, a BCD storageregister connected to be operated by the shift register and clocksignals for storing the BCD signal groups in sequence, the registermeans comprising a plurality of separate register sections for theplurality of BCD signal groups respectively adapted to be activated forregistering the amount of the respective BCD signal group, the receivermeans further comprising BCD decoder-driver means connected to beoperated by the BCD storage register for decoding each BCD signal groupand for driving all of the separate register sections in accordancetherewith, and sequencing means operable by the clock signals foractivating the separate register sections in sequence for being drivenby the BCD decoder-driver means for sequentially registering the amountsof the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, theregister sections being selectively operable -9 digit indicators and thereceiver means comprising blanking means for deactivating the digitindicators when displaying leading uninterrupted zeros, the BCD signalgroups of the accumulated amount being transmitted in descending orderof significance and the blanking means being operable for inactivatingthe digit indicators at the beginning of a transmission sequence and toactivate the digit indicators when the BCD signal group in the. storageregister represents a number.

3. A fluid dispensing system according'to claim 2 whereinthe'accumulating means is operable for accumulating the amount of fluiddelivered to at least one decimal place and wherein the blanking meansis operable to activate the digit indicators when the BCDsignal group inthe storage register corresponds to the first decimal place.

4. In a fluid dispensing system comprising at least one deliverysubsystem having a plurality of separate fluid product delivery systems'and adapted to be selectively set for delivering a'selected one of thefluid products with the corresponding product delivery system and forbeing activated for delivering the selected product, and a controlsubsystem for selectively setting and activating each deliverysubsystem, the improvement wherein each delivery subsystem comprisessettable product selector means selectively settable for selectivelysetting the delivery subsystem for delivering a selected one of thefluid products, wherein the control subsystem comprises first manuallyoperable electrical selector switch means for each fluid deliverysubsystem and wherein each delivery subsystem comprises second manuallyoperable electrical selector switch means operable for selectivelyselecting the fluid product to be delivered and deactivating thedelivery subsystem and electrical control means operable by the combinedoperation of the first and second electrical selector switch means forsetting the product selector means in accordance with the manualoperation of the second electrical switch means and for activating thedelivery subsystem for delivering the selected product established bythe setting of the product selector means and operable by either thefirst and second electrical selector switch means for deactivating thedelivery subsystem.

5. A fluid dispensing system according to claim 4 wherein the controlmeans is operable by the second electrical switch means to inactivatethe fluid delivery subsystem, and wherein the fluid delivery subsystemcomprises resettable register means for registering the amount of eachfluid delivery and automatically resettable to zero when the-fluiddelivery subsystem is reactivated for delivering fluid, and wherein thecontrol means comprises means preventing reactivation of the 10 fluiddelivery subsystem until the subsystem has been inactive for apredetermined time interval.

6. A fluid dispensing system according to claim 5 wherein thereactivation preventing means comprises delay means connected to bereset to zero when the fluid delivery subsystem is inactivated and togenerate a reset control signal after said predetermined time interval,and wherein the control means further cornprises activation meansoperable .by the reset control signal and the second manually operableelectrical switch means for operating the product selector means.

7. A fluid dispensing system according to claim 4- wherein the secondmanually operable electrical switch means is operable for inactivatingthe fluid delivery subsystem for delivering fluid, and wherein the fluiddelivery subsystem comprises liquid crystal indicator means forindicating the amount of fluid delivered and timer means forinactivating the indicator means after a predetermined time intervalafter the fluid delivery subsystem is inactivated for delivery fluid.

8. in a fluid dispensing system having at least one fluid deliverysubsystem for delivering fluid, the fluid delivery subsystem havingaccumulating means for accumulating theamount of the fluid delivered andsignal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing theaccumulated amount in the accumulating means, and a register subsystemhaving register means for registering the amount of fluid delivered byeach fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means connected for receivingthe transmitted signals from each delivery sub system and for operatingthe register means to register the amount of fluid delivered by thedelivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter meansis operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predeterminedfrequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of aplurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount, wherein thesignal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals atsaid predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises ashift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clocksignals for receiving the binary signals in sequence, a BCD storageregister connected to be operated by the shift register and clocksignals for storing the BCD signal groups in sequence, the registermeans comprising a plurality of separate register sections for theplurality of BCD signal groups respectively each operable by the BCDsignal groups stored in the storage register, the receiver means furthercomprising sequencing means operable by the clock signals for activatingthe separate register sections in sequence for sequentially registeringthe amounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storageregister, each of said separate register section being a display sectionconnected to be energized for a time interval according to the timeinterval the respective BCD signal group is stored in the storageregister and the receivermeans comprising display inactivating means forautomatically inactivating said display sections when the clock signalfrequency decreases below a predetermined frequency.

9. A fluid dispensing system according to claim 8 wherein the activatingmeans comprises capacitance means which discharges at a predeterminedrate, a single shot circuit operable by the clock signals to charge thecapacitance means a predetermined amount for each clock signal, andmeans operable by the capacitance means for maintaining the displaysections inactive below a predetermined charge level of the capacitancemeans.

10. In a fluid dispensing system having a plurality of fluid deliverysubsystems independently operable for delivering fluid, each fluiddelivery subsystem having accumulating means for separately accumulatingthe cost and volumetric amounts of fluid delivered and signaltransmitter means for transmitting signals representing the accumulatedamounts in the accumulating means, and a register subsystem havingregister means for registering the cost and volumetric amounts of fluiddelivered by a fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means selectivelyoperable for receiving the transmitted signals from a selected deliverysubsystem and for operating the register means to register the cost andvolumetric amounts of fluid delivered by the selected deliverysubsystem, the improvement wherein the sig nal transmitter means isoperable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predeterminedfrequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of aplurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated cost and volumetricamounts, wherein the signal transmitter means is operable fortransmitting clock signals at said predetermined frequency, and whereinthe receiver means comprises a single shift register connected to beoperated by the binary signals and clock signals for receiving thebinary signals in sequence, a single BCD storage register connected tobe operated by the shift register and clock signals for storing the BCDsignal groups in sequence, the register means comprising a plurality ofseparate number indicators for the plurality of BCD signal groupsrespectively each operable by the BCD signal groups stored in thestorage register, the receiver means further comprising sequencing meansoperable by the clock signals for activating the separate numberindicators in sequence for sequentially registering the amounts of therespective BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, the numberindicators being incandescent indicators .and the receiver meanscomprising blanking means for inactivating the indicators when the clockfrequency is below a predetermined frequency.

1. In a fluid dispensing system having at least one fluid deliverysubsystem for delivering fluid, the fluid delivery subsystem havingaccumulating means for accumulating the amount of the fluid deliveredand signal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing theaccumulated amount in the accumulating means, and a register subsystemhaving register means for registering the amount of fluid delivered byeach fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means connected for receivingthe transmitted signals from each delivery subsystem and for operatingthe register means to register the amount of fluid delivered by thedelivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter meansis operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predeterminedfrequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of aplurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount, wherein thesignal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals atsaid predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises ashift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clocksignals for receiving the binary in sequence, a BCD storage registerconnected to be operated by the shift register and clock signals forstoring the BCD signal groups in sequence, the register means comprisinga plurality of separate register sections for the plurality of BCDsignal groups respectively adapted to be activated for registering theamount of the respective BCD signal group, the receiver means furthercomprising BCD decoder-driver means connected to be operated by the BCDstorage register for decoding each BCD signal group in the BCD signalgroup sequence and for driving all of the separate register sections inaccordance therewith, and sequencing means operable by the clock signalsfor activating the separate register sections in said BCD signal groupsequence and in synchronism with the operation of the BCD storageregister for being driven by the BCD decoder driver means forsequentially registering the amounts of the respective BCD signal groupsstored in the storage register.
 2. In a fluid dispensing system havingat least one fluid delivery subsystem for delivering fluid, the fluiddelivery subsystem having accumulating means for accumulating the amountof the fluid delivered and signal transmitter means for transmittingsignals representing the accumulated amount in the accumulating means,and a register subsystem having register means for registeriNg theamount of fluid delivered by each fluid delivery subsystem and receivermeans connected for receiving the transmitted signals from each deliverysubsystem and for operating the register means to register the amount offluid delivered by the delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein thesignal transmitter means is operable for repetitively seriallytransmitting at a predetermined frequency and in a predeterminedsequence the binary signals of a plurality of BCD signal groups of theaccumulated amount, wherein the signal transmitter means is operable fortransmitting clock signals at said predetermined frequency, and whereinthe receiver means comprises a shift register connected to be operatedby the binary signals and clock signals for receiving the binary signalsin sequence, a BCD storage register connected to be operated by theshift register and clock signals for storing the BCD signal groups insequence, the register means comprising a plurality of separate registersections for the plurality of BCD signal groups respectively adapted tobe activated for registering the amount of the respective BCD signalgroup, the receiver means further comprising BCD decoder-driver meansconnected to be operated by the BCD storage register for decoding eachBCD signal group and for driving all of the separate register sectionsin accordance therewith, and sequencing means operable by the clocksignals for activating the separate register sections in sequence forbeing driven by the BCD decoder-driver means for sequentiallyregistering the amounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored inthe storage register, the register sections being selectively operable0-9 digit indicators and the receiver means comprising blanking meansfor deactivating the digit indicators when displaying leadinguninterrupted zeros, the BCD signal groups of the accumulated amountbeing transmitted in descending order of significance and the blankingmeans being operable for inactivating the digit indicators at thebeginning of a transmission sequence and to activate the digitindicators when the BCD signal group in the storage register representsa number.
 3. A fluid dispensing system according to claim 2 wherein theaccumulating means is operable for accumulating the amount of fluiddelivered to at least one decimal place and wherein the blanking meansis operable to activate the digit indicators when the BCD signal groupin the storage register corresponds to the first decimal place.
 4. In afluid dispensing system comprising at least one delivery subsystemhaving a plurality of separate fluid product delivery systems andadapted to be selectively set for delivering a selected one of the fluidproducts with the corresponding product delivery system and for beingactivated for delivering the selected product, and a control subsystemfor selectively setting and activating each delivery subsystem, theimprovement wherein each delivery subsystem comprises settable productselector means selectively settable for selectively setting the deliverysubsystem for delivering a selected one of the fluid products, whereinthe control subsystem comprises first manually operable electricalselector switch means for each fluid delivery subsystem and wherein eachdelivery subsystem comprises second manually operable electricalselector switch means operable for selectively selecting the fluidproduct to be delivered and deactivating the delivery subsystem andelectrical control means operable by the combined operation of the firstand second electrical selector switch means for setting the productselector means in accordance with the manual operation of the secondelectrical switch means and for activating the delivery subsystem fordelivering the selected product established by the setting of theproduct selector means and operable by either the first and secondelectrical selector switch means for deactivating the deliverysubsystem.
 5. A fluid dispensing system accOrding to claim 4 wherein thecontrol means is operable by the second electrical switch means toinactivate the fluid delivery subsystem, and wherein the fluid deliverysubsystem comprises resettable register means for registering the amountof each fluid delivery and automatically resettable to zero when thefluid delivery subsystem is reactivated for delivering fluid, andwherein the control means comprises means preventing reactivation of thefluid delivery subsystem until the subsystem has been inactive for apredetermined time interval.
 6. A fluid dispensing system according toclaim 5 wherein the reactivation preventing means comprises delay meansconnected to be reset to zero when the fluid delivery subsystem isinactivated and to generate a reset control signal after saidpredetermined time interval, and wherein the control means furthercomprises activation means operable by the reset control signal and thesecond manually operable electrical switch means for operating theproduct selector means.
 7. A fluid dispensing system according to claim4 wherein the second manually operable electrical switch means isoperable for inactivating the fluid delivery subsystem for deliveringfluid, and wherein the fluid delivery subsystem comprises liquid crystalindicator means for indicating the amount of fluid delivered and timermeans for inactivating the indicator means after a predetermined timeinterval after the fluid delivery subsystem is inactivated for deliveryfluid.
 8. In a fluid dispensing system having at least one fluiddelivery subsystem for delivering fluid, the fluid delivery subsystemhaving accumulating means for accumulating the amount of the fluiddelivered and signal transmitter means for transmitting signalsrepresenting the accumulated amount in the accumulating means, and aregister subsystem having register means for registering the amount offluid delivered by each fluid delivery subsystem and receiver meansconnected for receiving the transmitted signals from each deliverysubsystem and for operating the register means to register the amount offluid delivered by the delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein thesignal transmitter means is operable for repetitively seriallytransmitting at a predetermined frequency and in a predeterminedsequence the binary signals of a plurality of BCD signal groups of theaccumulated amount, wherein the signal transmitter means is operable fortransmitting clock signals at said predetermined frequency, and whereinthe receiver means comprises a shift register connected to be operatedby the binary signals and clock signals for receiving the binary signalsin sequence, a BCD storage register connected to be operated by theshift register and clock signals for storing the BCD signal groups insequence, the register means comprising a plurality of separate registersections for the plurality of BCD signal groups respectively eachoperable by the BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, thereceiver means further comprising sequencing means operable by the clocksignals for activating the separate register sections in sequence forsequentially registering the amounts of the respective BCD signal groupsstored in the storage register, each of said separate register sectionbeing a display section connected to be energized for a time intervalaccording to the time interval the respective BCD signal group is storedin the storage register and the receiver means comprising displayinactivating means for automatically inactivating said display sectionswhen the clock signal frequency decreases below a predeterminedfrequency.
 9. A fluid dispensing system according to claim 8 wherein theactivating means comprises capacitance means which discharges at apredetermined rate, a single shot circuit operable by the clock signalsto charge the capacitance means a predetermined amount for each clocksignal, and means operable by the capacitance means for maintaining thedisplay sections inactive below a predetermined charge level of thecapacitance means.
 10. In a fluid dispensing system having a pluralityof fluid delivery subsystems independently operable for deliveringfluid, each fluid delivery subsystem having accumulating means forseparately accumulating the cost and volumetric amounts of fluiddelivered and signal transmitter means for transmitting signalsrepresenting the accumulated amounts in the accumulating means, and aregister subsystem having register means for registering the cost andvolumetric amounts of fluid delivered by a fluid delivery subsystem andreceiver means selectively operable for receiving the transmittedsignals from a selected delivery subsystem and for operating theregister means to register the cost and volumetric amounts of fluiddelivered by the selected delivery subsystem, the improvement whereinthe signal transmitter means is operable for repetitively seriallytransmitting at a predetermined frequency and in a predeterminedsequence the binary signals of a plurality of BCD signal groups of theaccumulated cost and volumetric amounts, wherein the signal transmittermeans is operable for transmitting clock signals at said predeterminedfrequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises a single shiftregister connected to be operated by the binary signals and clocksignals for receiving the binary signals in sequence, a single BCDstorage register connected to be operated by the shift register andclock signals for storing the BCD signal groups in sequence, theregister means comprising a plurality of separate number indicators forthe plurality of BCD signal groups respectively each operable by the BCDsignal groups stored in the storage register, the receiver means furthercomprising sequencing means operable by the clock signals for activatingthe separate number indicators in sequence for sequentially registeringthe amounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storageregister, the number indicators being incandescent indicators and thereceiver means comprising blanking means for inactivating the indicatorswhen the clock frequency is below a predetermined frequency.